News

Pleasanton woman assaulted on Main Street early Friday

Woman wrestles attacker away, calls 911

A 43-year-old Pleasanton woman was assaulted just after midnight Friday as she was walking in the 300 block of Main Street in the downtown business district.

The victim told police she was walking home from a downtown restaurant when she saw what appeared to be an early 1990s Honda Accord drive past her.

She saw the driver make a U-turn and then park nearby on West Angela Street. She heard the vehicle door open and the driver get out. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind in a bear hug.

She said she was able to break free, pulled out her phone and called 911.

Seeing the victim with the phone, the assailant rushed back to his car and sped away.

The woman told police that she didn't see which direction the suspect went.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male, 35 to 40 years old with short brown or black hair. He did not have any facial hair but his face was described as “long.” He was about 5’-10” to 6’ tall, weighing 200 to 230 pounds with a muscular build.

The victim told police the man was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, but she could not describe any other clothing he was wearing.

This case is currently being investigated by the police department's Criminal Investigations Unit. There are several surveillance cameras in the area that may have evidence essential to this case. All leads are being pursued at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have additional information regarding this case, is asked to call the Pleasanton Police Department at (925)-931-5100.

Comments

2 people like this

Posted by Sam
a resident of Oak Hill
on Dec 31, 2016 at 7:54 am

Why in the world would she be walking the streets at that time of night? I bet she knew her attacker.

Posted by Nunya
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 31, 2016 at 8:24 am

Seriously, Sam? She could have been walking home. Or to her car. Who cares why she was walking at midnight? She should be able to walk around if she wants without fear of being groped or grabbed by some stranger no matter the time of day. If it had been a man walking on Main St. after midnight who was shoved or hit by some stranger, would it be his fault? It sounds like you're blaming her for being out at night. That's insane. I'm just glad she got her phone out and called for help. Thankfully she wasn't beaten up, robbed or raped. How about not blaming the victim.

Posted by Common Sense
a resident of Del Prado
on Dec 31, 2016 at 7:15 pm

As I said in other posts, we need to allow more people to conceal carry so thugs like "Mr. Honda Accord" will leave P-town in a body bag instead of driving outta here. We need these thugs to think twice before coming to P-town to conduct their "business".

Posted by Jerry
a resident of Canyon Meadows
on Jan 1, 2017 at 11:14 am

Love this town - woman reports a crime and the geniuses of Pleasanton (1) blame her, (2) discount the veracity of her claim, (3) argue that somehow if she had a gun, she could have protected herself from a criminal (who apparently couldn't have a gun himself?). Have fun being poor white failures sulking on the internet while all the intelligent women and immigrants actually pass high school, go to college, and run this country.

You men do realize that women have just as much a right to be on the street at mid-night as you do! According to the article, she started to scream. Between her screaming and trying to escape his hold on her, he probably thought it was better to get away. It sounds like he didn't have a weapon, or it could have been a very different story. Bravo to this woman who refused to be a victim!

First - Jerry's first three comments are somewhat accurate except for grouping all of Pleasanton's residents into the "geniuses of Pleasanton" catagory..,,there's been a total of about 4-5 people that have indicated that they don't think the woman should have been walking on Main St. Or should have had a gun, etc... The remainder of Jerry's comments are ignorant, asinine and immature.
Second - it's completely logical that a 43 year old woman would be able to fight off a muscular 30 yr old man...my wife is 50 and I'd feel sorry for the 30 yr old man that would try to assault her..,he'd be in the hospital.

Posted by night walker
a resident of Downtown
on Jan 2, 2017 at 2:47 pm

As a female who is older than this woman and someone who works very irregular hours I am often walking downtown in the middle of the night. If I happen to return late from a business trip and work in my office for several hours it could be well after midnight when my outgoing mail and bank deposits are ready to be walked downtown and dropped off. I think nothing of doing this. I am always completely aware of everyone around me and in the middle of the night ANYONE else is suspect and noticed. I walk with a walking stick, not for balance. I have taken close quarters combat training and am adequately prepared to put me and my stick to use.

Yes, everyone needs to be aware of what is around them. And no, just being a female does not mean that I am not entitled to be wherever I choose to be whenever I choose to do it just because I might be targeted. Would I do this in Oakland? Are you KIDDING? But to say that walking around in Pleasanton, basically a very safe town, is too hazardous is just ridiculous.

Posted by DirkDiggler
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jan 4, 2017 at 5:58 amDirkDiggler is a registered user.

Always fascinates me how people come on this site to bash others for their ridiculous posts...for being spiteful....for being illiterate....for being angry, resentful.....you name it. Then these SAME people go on here and bash the hell out of these same people with equally hateful, negative, unnecessary and yes, ridiculous language and innuendos. What makes everyone so superior that they think they can decide who is smart, funny, right, wrong, stupid, irresponsible.....or otherwise? How about learning not to judge.....lest you be judged someday.